LESSONS FROM GEESE
LESSONS FROM GEESE
By Milton Olson*
1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates “uplift” for the following bird. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.
LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others).
3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates to the back of the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard work and sharing leadership; with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging and not something else.
5. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help it and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, quickly join another formation, or catch up with their flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese, we too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
* Olson is a naturalist who has spent 25 years observing the behavior of geese.
By Milton Olson*
1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates “uplift” for the following bird. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.
LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others).
3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates to the back of the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard work and sharing leadership; with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging and not something else.
5. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help it and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, quickly join another formation, or catch up with their flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese, we too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
* Olson is a naturalist who has spent 25 years observing the behavior of geese.